Prosperity Pharmacy Launches Medication Therapy Management (MTM Program)
September 22, 2008
Prosperity Pharmacy has launched a service that will address the medication management needs of our clients. Medication Therapy Management (MTM), a concept often discussed in the pharmacy community, will now be more than just a catch phrase, here at Prosperity.
What is MTM? Medication Therapy Management is a cognitive service provided by specially trained Pharmacists. Before an MTM session begins, the Pharmacist conducts a comprehensive review of a patient’s chronic conditions, medications, and additional therapeutic remedies. This review allows the Pharmacist to screen a patient’s profile for drug interactions, adverse events, and opportunities for cost savings. As a result of this review, the Pharmacist may also chose to contact the patient’s prescribing physician and suggest changes in therapy, advise the patient about non-pharmacologic and over-the-counter remedies, or refer the patient to a specialist better capable of addressing their needs. Of most importance, this review session gives the patient and pharmacist a chance to interact with each other one-on-one, allowing for a positive exchange of patient education and a confirmation of understanding from the patient.
Who needs MTM? Patients with one or more chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, Hypertension, and Diabetes make excellent candidates for MTM due to their complicated drug regimens and potential drug-disease state interactions and side effects. Additionally, patients receiving medical care from more than one physician will benefit greatly from this service. Elderly patients will also benefit from MTM as seniors make up 13% of the American population but consume one-third of all prescription medications and take upwards of 5 prescriptions medication daily!
Why offer MTM? Medication Therapy Management provides opportunities for Pharmacists to identify current and potential hazardous drug interactions resulting from patients who have not been sufficiently informed about their disease states and the medications used to treat them. The goal of MTM is to improve upon patient education and reduce out-of-pocket cost to the patient and total cost to insurance companies. Cost reduction can occur by decreasing the number of pills a patient has to take, implementing administration methods that allow medications to work at their fullest potential, and avoiding doctor visits and hospitalizations due to adverse drug-related events.
Dr. Stephanie J. Spence
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist